Page 14 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 27 - 31

this question: “What vessel had the opportunity of rendering assistance to the “Titanic,” and, if any, how was it that assistance did not reach the ‘Titanic’ before the ‘Carpathia’ arrived?” The Commissioner: Will that involve my dealing with the “Frankfurt.” The Attorney-General: Well, only a reference. It is quite simple, I think. The only one that gives any difficulty with regard to this - any examination - is the “Californian.” As to the “Mount Temple,” you have the evidence about that. That question will cover the “Californian.” The Commissioner: Yes. The Attorney-General: Those are all the additions that I want to make. Sir Robert Finlay: I understand, my Lord, that it has been arranged that my friends who appear for the various parties admitted by leave will address the Court first. The Commissioner: The course that I understand is to be taken, and which I should approve, is that Mr. Scanlan should begin, and deal with this case. Then I shall ask Mr. Edwards, and I hope that Mr. Edwards will be able to obtain the consent of some of the gentlemen to his dealing with their arguments whatever they may be. Will you do that, Mr. Edwards? Mr. Edwards: Yes, I can already say, my Lord, that Mr. Cotter agrees. The Commissioner: I shall listen to Mr. Scanlan first, as he has been, as a Rule, the first Counsel to examine the Witnesses, and then I shall call upon you, Mr. Edwards, and I want as many of the gentlemen who appear on that side of the Court as can be induced to do it, to entrust the case, so far as they are concerned, to you, so that you may deal, not only with your own arguments, but with theirs. It is in order to save some of the speeches. And then after I have listened to you there is a gentleman over there whom I have not seen for quite a long time, Mr. Lewis, and he is not here now. Mr. Edwards: I can already tell your Lordship that, acting upon a suggestion, Mr. Cotter has asked me to address your Lordship upon those points which otherwise he would have had to address you upon, and I believe I shall be able to make the same statement, from information which has been conveyed to me, with regard to Mr. Lewis. As to the others, I will put myself into communication with them. The Commissioner: Do as much as you can. I daresay Mr. Harbinson (I say this because I think it) would desire to address me himself. Then there is Mr. Dunlop, who appears for the “Californian,” and I think I must listen to him, as I do not think he can leave his case in anybody else’s hands. And then after I have dealt with all those, then, Sir Robert, I shall ask you to address me, and finally the Attorney-General. The Attorney-General: Yes, my Lord. Sir Robert Finlay: Then my friend, Mr. Laing, my Lord - The Commissioner: Mr. Botterell, do you want to speak? Mr. Botterell: No, my Lord, I do not think I can usefully employ the time of the Court by any observations. The Commissioner: That is the best speech I have heard for some time. Mr. Scanlan: I understand Mr. Holmes said he would like to address your Lordship. He is not here at the moment. The Attorney-General: Mr. Wilding has to be called on the turning circle, and also I propose to get from him something else - The Commissioner: There are two things Mr. Wilding must formally do. I understand he has made a diagram to show the space in which the vessel could turn. The Attorney-General: Yes. The Commissioner: I want him to come into the box and prove that diagram. Then there is another diagram which he produced showing what the condition of the “Mauretania” would have been having had a similar accident to that which happened to the “Titanic.” The Attorney-General: Yes.